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  Emphasizing image portions in an imageThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080084584. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]This invention relates to a method, apparatuses and a computer-readable medium in the context of emphasizing specific image portions in an image. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Emphasizing specific image portions in an image is for instance desirable in the application field of digital photography, where said specific image portions may for instance be sharp image portions or blurred image portions. [0003]Generally, when using a digital camera with autofocus and zoom optics, there is a high risk of unwanted blurring of the important image areas, i.e. the depth of field may be too small (or too large), or simply, the camera may be focused to the wrong area of the image field. Especially, when shooting objects in close distance, i.e. when the focus is not in infinity, this risk increases. Macro photography is an extreme example of this--when the object distance is only a few dozens centimeters, the depth of field is often only a few centimeters. [0004]When taking a photo with a digital camera, the user has to evaluate the image sharpness instantly from the display of the digital camera, wherein the display acts as a viewfinder. This may become quite difficult, since the camera display--for instance when being integrated into a mobile phone--may be too small to adequately determine whether the image is correctly focused or not. The result often is that an image, which is assumed to be in good focus, later turns out to be partly or totally blurred, when viewed on a larger display, such as for instance a computer screen. SUMMARY [0005]One possibility to indicate the area of sharp focus is to display a rectangle, which has a fixed size and is centered around a single image area for which a maximum sharpness has been determined. Such a rectangle, due to its fixed dimensions, also may frame blurred areas that are situated close to the area of maximum sharpness, for instance in macro photography. Such a rectangle, which only indicates the area of maximum sharpness, does furthermore not provide the user with an idea of the actual area of adequate sharpness throughout the entire image. As a result, peripheral areas of a target that is preferred by a user to be in focus easily end up blurry by accident. [0006]It is thus proposed a method, said method comprising receiving image data representing an image; processing said image data to identify specific image portions in said image, wherein said specific image portions are one of a plurality of sharp image portions and a plurality of blurred image portions; and assigning a specific presentation mode to said specific image portions in said image. [0007]Furthermore, a computer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon is proposed, the computer program comprising instructions operable to cause a processor to receive image data representing an image; instructions operable to cause a processor to process said image data to identify specific image portions in said image, wherein said specific image portions are one of a plurality of sharp image portions and a plurality of blurred image portions; and instructions operable to cause a processor to assign a specific presentation mode to said specific image portions in said image. [0008]Furthermore, an apparatus is proposed, comprising an input interface for receiving image data representing an image; and a processor configured to process said image data to identify specific image portions in said image, wherein said specific image portions are one of a plurality of sharp image portions and a plurality of blurred image portions, and to assign a specific presentation mode to said specific image portions in said image. [0009]Finally, an apparatus is proposed, comprising means for receiving image data representing an image; means for processing said image data to identify specific image portions in said image, wherein said specific image portions are one of a plurality of sharp image portions and a plurality of blurred image portions; and means for assigning said specific presentation mode to said specific image portions in said image. [0010]Therein, said image data may for instance be received from an image sensor, as for instance a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. Therein, said image data may be analog or digital data, and may be raw or compressed image data. [0011]Said processing of said image data may be performed by a processor that is contained in the same device as said image sensor, e.g. in a digital camera or in a device that is equipped with a digital camera, such as for instance a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable computer, or a portable multi-media device, or may be contained in a device that is separate from a device that houses said image sensor. For instance, said processor may be contained in a computer for post-processing said image data. [0012]Said image data is processed to identify specific image portions, which are either a plurality of sharp image portions or a plurality of blurred image portions in said image. In particular, said specific image portions may be either all sharp image portions or all blurred image portions in said image. Therein, said sharp image portions may not be understood as image portions that achieve a maximum sharpness in said image, but as image portions with a sharpness above a certain sharpness threshold, which may be below said maximum sharpness. Said sharpness threshold may for instance be related to the perception capability of the human eye and/or the display capabilities of a device on which said image is to be displayed. Said sharpness may for instance be measured in terms of the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). [0013]If said processing is performed by a processor in a digital camera or in a device that comprises a digital camera, said processing may for instance be performed during focusing to determine image portions that are in focus and image portions that are out of focus. Equally well, said processing may be performed after capturing of an image. Said identifying of said sharp and blurred image portions may for instance be based on phase detection and/or contrast measurement. Therein, said sharp image portions do not necessarily have to be image portions that achieve maximum sharpness. Equally well, image portions with a sharpness above a certain sharpness threshold may be considered as sharp image portions, whereas the remaining image portions are considered as blurred image portions. [0014]A specific presentation mode is assigned to said specific image portions in said image. This does however not inhibit assigning a further presentation mode to the respective other type of image portion, i.e. a first presentation mode may be assigned to said sharp image portions and a second presentation mode may be assigned to said blurred image portions. [0015]Said specific presentation mode affects the way said specific image portion is presented, for instance if said image with said sharp and blurred image portions is displayed on a display. Said specific presentation mode may differ from a normal presentation mode, i.e. from a presentation mode in which said image would normally be presented or in which said non-specific image portions may be presented. [0016]Furthermore, said specific presentation mode may only affect the image area consumed by said specific image portions, i.e. it may not affect or comprise image area consumed by non-specific image portions. In this way, it may be possible--during presentation of said image--to uniquely identify, based on said specific presentation mode, which image portions of said image are specific image portions and which are not. [0017]Depending on the specific presentation mode and the specific image portions, image portions in said image may be understood to be emphasized when said image is presented under consideration of said specific presentation mode. For instance, if said specific image portions are blurred image portions, and if said specific presentation mode is a black-and-white presentation mode, only sharp image portions may be presented in color, whereas the blurred image portions are presented in black-and-white, and thus said sharp image portions may appear emphasized. [0018]Since said specific image portions are a plurality of sharp image portions or a plurality of blurred image portions, and since said specific presentation mode is assigned to said specific image portions, it is possible, when said image is presented under consideration of said specific presentation mode, to get an overview on which image portions of an image are sharp and which are not, which simplifies the focusing process or allows to determine, after capturing of an image, if said image should be taken again or not. In particular, not only the (single) image portion with maximum sharpness, but a plurality of (sharp or blurred) image portions is assigned a specific presentation mode. [0019]In said specific presentation mode, at least one image property of said specific image portions may be modified. This may comprise modifying said at least one image property for all of said specific image portions. Said image property may for instance be color, brightness, sharpness, resolution, density, transparency and visibility. Equally well, further image properties may be modified. [0020]In said specific presentation mode, at least one of color, brightness, sharpness, resolution, density, transparency and visibility of said specific image portions may be modified. For instance, both color and sharpness of said specific image portions may be modified. [0021]According to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in said specific presentation mode, said specific image portions are presented in black-and-white. Continue reading... Full patent description for Emphasizing image portions in an image Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Emphasizing image portions in an image patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. 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